King's Treasure (Oil Kings Book 3) by Marie Johnston (great novels .TXT) 📗

“These are work trips. Funded by Abbot Security.”

I leveled a stare at her.

She looked down at her hands. “It’s a short amount of time. It’ll be next February before you know it.”

Each day this week had stretched into eternity. For each hour that went by, I’d sworn it was eight. As soon as Pearl and Em had informed me of what Savvy’s work schedule would really be like, I’d realized I couldn’t take months of it.

“So you’re not going to try to change it?”

She frowned. “Why do you want me to?”

“This isn’t my home, Savvy.”

“You don’t have a home.” She clenched her hands together. “You don’t have a job. I’m trying to build a good foundation in case what we want doesn’t work out.”

A foundation that was her plan B. Her safety net, if we didn’t work out. “Aren’t you committed to making this work?”

“Of course I am, Xander. That’s why I’m doing this.”

I nodded but I wasn’t agreeing with her. This was what, round three of this same talk? “Your parents are your security blanket.”

“Excuse me?” She rose until we were facing off.

“You’re afraid of failing, so you’re clinging to them because you think that once you get the money, you’re guaranteed not to fail.”

“No.” Her arms were folded so tight across her chest that her fingers were turning white. She leaned forward to emphasize a point I wasn’t going to like. “I’m sticking around, like an adult, to clean up a mess I made. I’m not running from it like a scared teenager.”

I recoiled. She thought I wanted to run? I wanted to live. This wasn’t living, it was hiding. I admired her dedication to her job and to her parents, but the cost was us. If she was taking care of herself in case we failed, then I’d do that too. “I’ll be leaving too.”

“What? When?”

“Tonight.” I shocked myself with the decision. Her eyes went wide but I’d said it; I had to commit. “We won’t be seeing each other anyway. This won’t be any different.”

“Wh-where are you going?”

“I have that friend. I messaged him and he needs help with his business. I can work for him for a while.”

“But your career—”

“Isn’t going anywhere in DC. I can find another story with Hector.” And maybe take some pictures again. I didn’t bring my camera with me when I left each day to work.

“You can’t just leave.” Her lower lip quivered and her eyes were glassy.

“You did.” I nearly relented, but I thought of Sunday and repeating this last week for several more months. No, thank you.

“It’s only a few days at a time. A week at the most.”

“We’re fooling ourselves, Savvy. If we can’t make this marriage work without money, we don’t stand a chance being millionaires together. It’s better to part now than wait and hope for another ten and a half months.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but shut it again. I didn’t know what else to do, what more I could say. That mic drop moment said it plainly.

I moved around the room. Packing my things took ten minutes, tops. I didn’t include any of the clothing Mrs. Abbot had purchased. Savvy stayed in the same spot and watched me.

When I was done, I stood at the door with my beat-up suitcase and my backpack slung across my shoulder. “I’ll send the address, in case you need it for any papers. Whatever your decision, I understand. Let your mom know I’ll pay her back for all the clothing.”

She nodded and a tear rolled down one cheek. My hand itched to wipe it away, but touching her was the last thing I should do. I wouldn’t leave if that happened. I wouldn’t stop touching her and our wedding night had shown that it wasn’t enough.

So, I turned and walked out. The house was dark and empty. Savvy didn’t come racing after me. Darkness blanketed the night and the neighborhood was as quiet as the house I’d never see again.

Chapter 12

Savvy

Six weeks later . . .

My iPad lay on my lap. The screen had long gone black, concealing the travel itinerary I was supposed to be double-checking. How long had I been in the library, looking out the window and wishing Xander was out there with Michael? But where there had once been snow and the snowman we made together, there was green grass. Michael worked alone, sweeping grit out of the patio blocks and trimming the edges of the lawn with military precision that I think my mother loved more than the Chief.

I sighed and tapped the home button. My screen woke up, but I was no longer interested in which hotel was closer to the venue for the security conference Chief had to attend next week. I closed the file. Next week would be our seventh work trip and I was exhausted. Chief should have two assistants, one just for travel.

He got a helluva deal with me.

Done for the day, I left the library and headed for the sitting room and the oblivion TV might bring me. But when I was just outside the door, heavy footsteps sounded down the hallway behind me. My shoulders crept up to my ears as I ducked inside and hoped Chief would keep walking. At least the disapproving looks for chasing Xander away had tapered off. He didn’t quite buy my excuse that Xander had a deadline that he needed to travel and do research for. It sounded good, even if it wasn’t true. Mother bought the lie, but my sisters didn’t. Yet they stayed out of it.

My solitaire diamond sparkled on my hand, a signal that I was still married. Xander had said he’d understand, whatever I decided. I wasn’t sure what my choices were beyond stay married or don’t. Thinking about each decision was depressing on the best of days.

How much did the money matter to me? Enough to let my husband live in another country while I stayed here? Enough to quit and